Seven Cybersecurity Best Practices Most Employees Still Ignore

Introduction

Imagine this: a single misplaced click in your inbox, or an innocent password scribbled on a sticky note, and suddenly your whole company is at risk. You’d assume that, in the age of daily data breaches and soaring ransomware attacks, everyone takes cybersecurity seriously. Yet, reality tells a different story. According to Verizon’s 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report, 74% of breaches involve the human element—be it error, privileged misuse, or mindless click. Astoundingly, some of the most fundamental cybersecurity rules are ignored by employees across industries every day.

So, why do these bad habits persist even as posts about cyber threats flood our feeds? The answer: familiarity breeds carelessness. When security protocols become mundane, or seem like abstract IT jargon, it's easy to revert to old habits. Yet, as costs from cyber incidents hit record highs—IBM's 2023 Cost of a Data Breach Report found the average breach cost grew to $4.45 million—overlooking even minor safety steps simply isn’t an option.

Let’s pull back the curtain on the seven most overlooked cybersecurity best practices—the ones your colleagues (and, let’s be honest, maybe you) are still ignoring. Through real examples and practical tips, discover why these overlooked habits are a hacker’s best friend—and what you can do to banish them from your workplace.

1. Beware the Reused Password: The Danger of “Just One More Time”

Why Employees Still Reuse Passwords

Despite relentless reminders to use unique passwords, password recycling is rife. A 2022 LastPass survey found that most people use the same passwords for multiple accounts—sometimes dozens. Convenience often beats security.

Real-World Impact

• Credential stuffing attacks—where criminals use stolen credentials from one breach to access other accounts—are a direct result. If a hacker snags your Netflix login and you use the same for work email, your company is now wide open.
• The infamous 2017 Deloitte hack reportedly occurred thanks to a single compromised password reused across multiple systems.

Actionable Steps

• Password managers: Tools like 1Password or Bitwarden make creating, storing, and recalling strong, unique passwords easy.
• Company training: Hold targeted sessions on real-life password attack scenarios and how to resist everyday temptations.

"Passwords are like underwear—don’t let people see it, change it often, and don’t share it with strangers." —Chris Pirillo

2. Two-Factor Authentication: The Silent Shield Employees Skip

Stubborn Resistance to 2FA

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is a simple yet powerful line of defense. Still, Duo’s 2022 Trusted Access Report found that only 28% of companies mandate 2FA for all users—let alone adoption for all services.

Real-World Impact

• In July 2020, Twitter suffered a breach that saw high-profile accounts (including Elon Musk and Barack Obama) hijacked—attackers gained internal access due to weaknesses in 2FA implementation.

Why Employees Ignore 2FA

• Annoyance at the extra step.
• Misunderstanding the importance: "I’m just an admin assistant—no hacker wants my info!"

Smart Solutions

• Mandatory enforcement: Require 2FA wherever possible, especially for email and sensitive apps.
• Ease of use: Offer hardware keys (like Yubikey) or app-based authenticators for convenience. Make SMS 2FA a fallback, not a default.
• Education: Remind teams that hackers love low-hanging fruit—and 2FA rarity makes them the prime target.

3. Regular Software Updates: "Remind Me Tomorrow" Gone Wrong

The Risk of Procrastination

How many times have you clicked “Remind Me Later” on an update pop-up? You’re not alone—a 2023 Harris Poll found nearly 43% of employees put off updates for a week or more. That delay can turn into disaster.

Real-World Impact

• 2017's WannaCry ransomware: Exploited a vulnerability patched months prior. Ill-maintained public systems—including the entire UK National Health Service—were crippled, resulting in hundreds of millions in losses.

Why Are Updates Ignored?

• Fear of downtime/interrupting workflows.
• Misconception that "if it ain't broke, don’t fix it."

Actionable Steps

• Automate updates: Set work devices to auto-install patches after-hours.
• Communicate the why: Share stories of real companies torpedoed by delayed patches.
• IT monitoring: Regularly audit for unpatched systems.

4. Phishing: Spotting, Reporting, and Not Just Clicking "Delete"

Employees Still Fall for Phishing

As of 2023, 36% of data breaches start with a phishing email, reports Verizon. Hackers continually refine their methods: fake CEO requests, realistic invoices, and even look-alike URLs (think go0gle.com). Many staff believe “It could never trick me”—a dangerous assumption.

Real-World Impact

• In March 2022, a university in the US lost $12 million after an accounts clerk was duped by a highly believable phishing message masked as a routine supplier payment update.

Where Employees Go Wrong

• Trusting emails from apparent authority figures.
• Skimming over URLs or sender addresses.
• Not reporting suspect messages—simply deleting.

Solutions

• Simulation drills: Run regular, randomized phishing tests to reveal weak spots without blame.
• Encourage reporting: Reward (not penalize) ‘false positives’ to foster proactive flagging.
• Visual training: Show what real scam emails look like.

“It takes just one click to undermine even the world's best firewalls.” —Brian Krebs

5. Lock Work Devices—Even for a Minute

The Unlocked Device Habit

When stepping away “just for a coffee,” many employees leave their workstations unlocked. In open-plan or hybrid offices—or shared remote environments—this is a gaping vulnerability.

What Could Go Wrong?

• Rogue colleagues or on-site contractors could quickly access sensitive docs or plant malware from a USB drive.
• A real-world example: In 2018, a disgruntled ex-employee of a tech firm accessed unlocked desks after being let go and leaked confidential files—costing the company a key client.

Easy Prevention

• Educate about threat diversity: Not all attacks are from shadowy ‘outside hackers.’ Insider incidents are rising (34% of breaches had insider involvement, Verizon 2023).
• Enforce timeouts: Configure devices to auto-lock after a minute or two of inactivity.
• Promote a culture of security reminders: Friendly nudges among staff can reinforce new habits.

6. Proper Disposal of Sensitive Data: Shredders and Digital Clean-Up

Physical and Digital Lapses

The 'forgotten file' or trashed old laptop rife with data is a goldmine for criminals. Many still throw out documents, USBs, or outdated hardware without ensuring proper sanitization.

Costly Oversights

• Morgan Stanley was fined $60 million in 2020 after decommissioned servers—filled with bank data—were sold online without being wiped.
• Studies indicate up to 25% of used hard drives sold still contain recoverable corporate data (Blancco, 2022).

Commonly Ignored Steps

• Emptying recycle bins but forgetting backups/cloud copies.
• Physically tossing devices with hard drives intact.

Action Items

• Enforce document shredding policies.
• Certified destruction: Work with e-waste firms offering proof of digital data destruction.
• Train regularly: Assume every file, device, and scrap paper could have sensitive information.

7. Overlooking Incident Reporting: Small Glitches, Big Consequences

"I'll Just Fix It Myself..." and Other Reporting Pitfalls

Often, employees try to hide minor missteps—lost USBs, accidental email sends, suspicious pop-ups—out of embarrassment or fear. Others assume "It’s not important." Yet small anomalies can signal major threats.

Collateral Damage

• The 2013 Target breach began with a small malware spike spotted by lower-level analysts who failed to escalate it. The aftermath: 41 million credit and debit card accounts compromised; a $162 million cost.

Improving the Culture

• Normalize incident reporting: Make it clear mistakes happen, but coverups amplify damage.
• Anonymous hotlines: Remove fear of blame with ways to report issues without identification.
• Micro-training moments: Encourage sharing of “near misses” as learning opportunities.

Beyond Best Practices: Building a Lasting Culture of Security

Cheatsheets and one-off trainings won’t win the battle against cyber threats. Defenses must be woven into the organizational fabric. Here’s how top companies cement cyber-smart behaviors:

• Gamified learning: Platforms like KnowBe4 let employees compete on phishing awareness, making training fun—not punitive.
• Executive buy-in: When leadership openly models best security habits—never sharing passwords or ignoring updates—it ripples throughout the company.
• Rewards and recognition: Publicly acknowledge individuals or teams who identify vulnerabilities or who ace simulated drills.

"Security is not a product, but a process." —Bruce Schneier

Measuring Progress

• Short, frequent refresher sessions: Build knowledge incrementally.
• Track metrics: Phishing test results, incident reports, patching speed, and password reset rates as KPIs.

Conclusion: Turning Oversights into Strengths

It’s tempting to believe that only tech experts can stop hackers—or that none of this could ever happen in your company. But as attack methods evolve, the greatest risks stem from everyday actions ignored by regular employees. Each of these seven best practices—when observed—forms an essential layer in the fortress against breach.

Take away these truths:

1. Simple steps make a massive difference.
2. Human error is the easiest door for cyber criminals.
3. Building lasting habits is everyone’s responsibility, from CTOs to interns.

No company can eliminate all risk—but when all employees play their part, they can thwart most attacks before harm is done. Start today: update your password, enable that second factor, pause before you click—and inspire your coworkers to do the same. It’s not paranoia. It’s smart security.

Further Resources:

• Have I Been Pwned: Check if your credentials were leaked
• StaySafeOnline: Employee Cybersecurity Training
• CISA Guidelines for Organizations